Should I have a First Look? Is it okay to see my fiance before the wedding?

Should I have a first look? Should I see my fiance before the wedding??

The topic of First Looks is something we’re starting to get asked a lot here at Tailored Fit Films!

There is a brand new trend emerging in modern wedding photography and video that has gained huge popularity over the last couple of years – commonly referred to as a “first look” or “first meeting.” The idea behind this trend is that it gives the photographer/videographer the chance to capture that first glimpse of each other in a more romantic setting. With so many amazing outdoor locations available, First Looks in the Okanagan can be stunning. If you haven’t seen photos or video of a first look yet – youtube is full of them! There is no doubt that these scenes are extremely emotional and meaningful to the couples, and produce some incredible photographic and film memories. But first looks aren’t for everybody – and there are many of reasons couples choose to wait until the ceremony.

Personally, we’re huge fans of having a First Look – So we’d like to take you through the advantages and disadvantages of having one, so that you can decide what is right for you. So lets take a look shall we? Should you should see your fiance before the wedding ceremony?

First off, the top concerns to having a first look:

Concern Number One: We want our Ceremony to stay Special

For years it has been tradition that the bride and groom do not see each other on the wedding day, until they meet at the end of the aisle. In addition to the superstition that this can mean bad luck for the couple, many couples want to keep their distance on the morning of, so that the ceremony will remain special.

Whether or not you believe in superstition, there is certainly valid points in this objection. You only see each other for the first time once. What we’ve found in our experience though is that a First Look doesn’t TAKE AWAY a special moment from the wedding day – it adds one.

Let us explain: First looks are almost always just between the bride and groom, with noone else around. This makes it the first private moment that the two of you meet – but it doesn’t take away from the first public moment when the groom sees his bride at the end of the aisle, surrounded by friends and family! We’ve found most couples feel as if the first look actually builds the anticipation and experience leading up to the ceremony. What ends up happening is your Ceremony is even more Special 🙂

Concern Number Two: My Family Doesn’t Like the Idea.

Maybe you’ve watched some amazing wedding films and seen some stunning pictures of first looks – but for whatever reason your family just isn’t sold. What should you do? Well first off, much of it might come down to understanding their perspective, addressing their concerns as best you can, showing them examples that can win them over. But what if they still aren’t convinced?

One option we find helps couples is to play the photo session card.

Whats the photo session card? We’re glad you asked 🙂 At almost every wedding you’ll go to, the bride, groom, bridal party and family normally have a lengthy photo session to attend after the ceremony. While we as photographers and videographers work to make these as fun and short as possible, your family and bridal party are still going to miss some of the fun back at the reception.

One of the advantages of a first look is that you can also choose to do family photos and formals BEFORE your wedding ceremony! Take that time you’re normally just waiting, and get the majority of your family photos finished – so that your family and friends can spend MORE TIME enjoying your wedding, and LESS TIME forcing a smile for the camera!

These are the main objections we come across to first looks – but we think that in the light of everything a First Look can ADD to your wedding, there is very little tradeoff for such including such a beautiful and intimate moment in your wedding day.

– First Looks Bring You TWO Special Moments, instead of one

– First Looks make for stunning photos & video

– First Looks can save you time spent on photo sessions after the ceremony

– First Looks add an intimate moment to your wedding day – you can savour the chance to be alone for a little while before you spend the rest of the day celebrating with everyone!

As you can tell, we LOVE First Looks – and hope you’ll consider having one for your wedding. If you DO decide to hold a first look – here are some tips for maximizing on the experience:

Give yourselves plenty of time.

Making sure you have enough time to savour the moments and not be rushed is a key part of having an amazing wedding experience – and this is especially true for this kind of special moment. Make sure you budget for extra time for transport and in case things are behind schedule, as is quite common at any wedding.

Choose a great location.

We recommend somewhere personal, somewhere beautiful, and somewhere private. The more personal it is to you, the more special the moment will be. Choosing somewhere beautiful and private can make all the difference for really savouring the moment, and having gorgeous photographs and video to cherish those memories forever! Make sure there is plenty of natural light so that your photos and video are captured.

Be yourselves.

While as your photo and video friends we love capturing this moment – don’t do it for us, do it for you! Forget about the cameras, and just take a few minutes to talk, connect, and enjoy each other’s company.

Watch that dress!

We love outdoor locations for their colour and freshness – just make sure to lift that dress up as you cross the grass or other outdoor obstacles. We’d recommend finding a spot that doesn’t require too much walking – or if it does, bringing a pair of runners to get you there, then slipping on your beautiful shoes.

Follow those tips, and you should be in for an unforgettable experience that adds that much more to an amazing wedding day.

Hopefully now you can see the advantages and disadvantages of having a first look and seeing your groom / bride / fiance / partner on the morning of your wedding. Okanagan First Looks are incredible simply because of our amazing scenery and landscapes. Some of the best we’ve seen ANYWHERE have been first looks in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and surrounding areas. If you’re having trouble finding a spot, we’re always happy to help you find an Okanagan first look location. If you have any questions or concerns about First Looks, send us a message and we’ll help as much as we can 🙂

Can’t decide whether a first look is right for you?? You can also experience a mock first look to help you see what its like!

We offer a FREE engagement session with every enquiry, where we’ll take you through the entire process and show you what to expect. Get in touch and we’ll book yours today 🙂

For more wedding planning tips, tricks and secrets, check out the rest of our blog here at Tailored Fit Films!

Ryan Breitkreutz – Head Cinematographer, Tailored Fit Films

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Are you wondering should I have a first look? is it okay to see my fiance before the wedding? what is a first look? how do first looks work at a wedding? will a first look ruin my wedding ceremony? The pros in cons when asking “Should I have a first look?”

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